FCP7 Appears To Be The Last of the Mohicans

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It Appears FCP7 Is The Last of The Mohicans for the FCP7 Code-Base

[June 26, 2011] – If the fact that Final Cut Studio is no longer in the Apple Store and FCS links redirect to FCPX...
or if the numerous news outlets and blogs reporting that FCP7 ("a.k.a. "Legacy FCP") is "End of Lifed" and in some cases that Apple is requesting retailers to send back their copies of FCS still doesn't convince folks of the end of development for this software along the FCP7 code-base, then here are Apple Product Managers discussing FCPX (excerpts below).

At no time do they mention continued development of "Legacy FCP" on that code-base. One would imagine that if they were going to concurrently develop "Legacy FCP" that they'd say that very loudly and very clearly. It sure would end a lot of the Apple bashing that's happening. Right?

I decided to contact Steve Jobs and Apple's press contacts myself on June 27.Apple has visited my web site at least 9 or 10 times since I contacted them (see below), yet there has been no response to my inquiries to Apple for additional clarification. Please scroll down for details along with my web site visitor logs showing that Apple visited. Unfortunately, I doubt that after seeing that I'm an Avid Certified Instructor they will respond to me.

Ultimately, I think the only hope for Legacy FCP users is that if enough of them raise a loud enough ruckus, Apple may fold and agree to concurrently develop Legacy FCP (Classic Coke) along with FCPX (New Coke).

Based on the information below (and other sources), it sure seems EOL'd to me.

"After consulting with the Apple project manager's, the Time's David Pogue concluded that "Apple has followed the typical Apple sequence" with Final Cut Pro X, which is to "(1) throw out something that’s popular and comfortable but increasingly ancient, (2) replace it with something that’s slick and modern and forward-looking and incomplete, (3) spend another year finishing it up, restoring missing pieces." (emphasis mine)

"...several Final Cut Pro X project managers recently made themselves available to address some of the more prominent concerns surrounding the new software."

"Introduced Tuesday as a "revolutionary new version" that "completely reinvents video editing," Apple's $299 Final Cut Pro X stands as a ground-up re-write of the company's industry-leading professional video editing suite Final Cut Studio, targeted at both professionals and advanced consumers, or so-called "prosumers." (emphasis mine)

"In its first public attempt to address some of these concerns, Apple made available to the New York Times a handful of Final Cut Pro X product managers who openly addressed the softwares "missing features..." -- Nowhere in the story is there mention that Legacy FCP will be further developed. Focus is on what the replacement program (FCPX) has or doesn't have. (emphasis mine)

"Apple concedes that some complaints will likely go unrectified. For instance, Final Cut Pro X can't import old Final Cut Pro projects and there's reportedly no plans to address the matter. Instead, editors will need to keep both programs -- Final Cut Pro 7 and Final Cut Pro X-- on their hard drive, and edit the old projects in the old program." (emphasis mine) -- Again, there is no mention that Legacy FCP will be further developed concurrently alongside FCPX, even when FCP7 is mentioned specifically.

My contact with Apple, starting on June 27

I made repeated phone calls earlier in the afternoon today. Initially, I did speak with Mr. Smith, referred to below, on my very first attempt. However, he deferred any statement-making to Ms. Sarkar and/or the main media relations phone number. I left voice mail messages with Ms. Sarkar and Media Relations earlier this afternoon, leaving my email address and phone number along with my questions.

Good afternoon Ms. Sarkar, Mr. Smith, and the Media Relations Team at media [dot] help [at] apple [dot] com,

Below is an email I sent to Mr. Jobs. As the likelihood of a reply from him is slim, due to his busy schedule, I'm hoping that one of you may be able to answer the questions posed below and assist me with my news story.

Good afternoon Mr. Jobs,

I write to you on my beloved 17" MacBook Pro.
The purpose of my contact is in seeking clarification on the following:

1 -- Is FCP7 (a.k.a. "Legacy FCP" as it is coming to be called) definitely "End of Lifed"? While this has been reported by AppleInsider.com and others, no named Apple executive source is officially on the record (that I'm aware). So, I'm looking for a sourced response to this question.

2 -- If "Legacy FCP" is indeed EOL, what support might users see in the long term regarding compatibility with future hardware and OS releases (especially Lion, of course); and will there be any continuing work on bug-fixes and such?

Thank you, or your representative, very much for taking the time to respond to my queries.

I'm pleased that you have had an opportunity to review the questions emailed to you on June 27 (copy included below), and have also had an opportunity to stop by my web site yesterday and today (http://hershleder.com/#apple_contact).

I'm sure you are crafting a response to my questions, and to those of other Legacy FCP users. I look forward to hearing from you.

Once again, thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my queries.

Good afternoon Ms. Sarkar, Mr. Smith, and the Media Relations Team at media.help@apple [dot] com,

Below is an email I sent to Mr. Jobs. As the likelihood of a reply from him is slim, due to his busy schedule, I'm hoping that one of you may be able to answer the questions posed below and assist me with my news story.

Good afternoon Mr. Jobs,

I write to you on my beloved 17" MacBook Pro.
The purpose of my contact is in seeking clarification on the following:

1 -- Is FCP7 (a.k.a. "Legacy FCP" as it is coming to be called) definitely "End of Lifed"? While this has been reported by AppleInsider.com and others, no named Apple executive source is officially on the record (that I'm aware). So, I'm looking for a sourced response to this question.

2 -- If "Legacy FCP" is indeed EOL, what support might users see in the long term regarding compatibility with future hardware and OS releases (especially Lion, of course); and will there be any continuing work on bug-fixes and such?

Thank you, or your representative, very much for taking the time to respond to my queries.

Another flyby from Apple at 1:47:19pm PDT.C'mon Apple, give me the news scoop of the moment. Is FCP EOL'd or not?

UPDATE #5 – Not an update per se, but a post I'm choosing to share:

Ron Brinkman, who was part of the initial design and development team that produced the digital compositing application called "Shake" (acquired by Apple in 2002), provides some insight on Apple's past corporate decisions with that professional product. It's up to us to extrapolate what this means for the FCP7 code-base. But, if past actions reflect present circumstances, I again conclude that the FCP7 code-base has been End of Lifed.

June 30, 2011

UPDATE #1–On 6/29 Apple released a FAQ on FCPX. In it, at least one issue I was inquiring about was addressed. Apple confirms that FCP7 will be able to run on the soon to be released "Lion" OS. As Lion will be a 64 bit OS, and FCP7 is 32 bit I'd have to imagine that it will run via an emulator.

"While Final Cut Pro 7 will be compatible with the forthcoming Mac OS X 10.7 Lion operating system, Apple discontinued the product last week when it made Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server and Final Cut Express all "end of life" products. That means going forward, video professionals will only be able to buy a new copy of Final Cut Pro X from the Mac App Store."

"I agree with you. All signs point to EOL'd. But seeing as Apple has not gotten back with me, are you aware of a named source from Apple that has explicitly stated that FCP7 is EOL'd. And if it is EOL'd, have they revealed what kind of support will be provided for it over the next 12 to 18 months (bug fixes, providing compatibility with new hardware, etc.)?"

Neil Hughes from AppleInsider.com was kind enough to reply (and give me permission to post his response). He said:

"The story we wrote was based on what we were told by a retail employee. They included specific language about the memo sent out to employees. Nobody is 'on the record,' but you can't buy Final Cut Studio anymore, so that should tell you all you need to know. I would imagine FCP7 will be supported for 12-18 months after it was purchased, like with any standard Apple warranty."

Unfortunately, Apple continues to leave the FCP7 user base a bit in the dark. Even AppleInsider is left to speculate regarding support. Apple really should make this explicitly clear and detail what type(s) of support users can expect over the coming 12 to 18 months. Further, I feel they should communicate difinitively, one way or the other, if they are willing to continue development on the Legacy FCP code-base until such time that FCPX is ready for prime time.

UPDATE #4–I have to agree (as I have from the beginning) with Neil Hughes, of AppleInsider.com, that since "you can't buy Final Cut Studio anymore, so that should tell you all you need to know" that the FCP7 code-base application is dead. As the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." Unless something amazing happens, I think the updates to this post are as done as Final Cut Studio.

"I sent an email to my contacts at Apple asking if they would either announce a timetable of when we could see the next “major release” of Final Cut Pro X, or whether Apple was considering re-releasing Final Cut Studio (3) to the market. Apple did not respond to my email; which I’ve also learned is an answer in itself...."

As with Variety (on 6/30 above), once again I find myself in good company!

UPDATE #2– I will reiterate the following before ending this post with a couple of short videos:

I feel for the FCP users and I believe that Apple should correct the current FCPX situation by pledging to continue developing the FCP7 code-base application *concurrently* with the FCPX code-base application until such a time that FCPX is equally as functional. R.I.P. FCS . . . I'll miss you too . . .

And if you need a laugh, there is a lot more humorous post production and technolgy related humor on my Humor Page »